Perth radio broadcaster Brad Hardie ‘comfortable’ with story linking Ross Lyon to Collingwood

Jordan McArdleMonday, 14 August 2017 8:45AM

Perth radio broadcaster Brad Hardie ‘comfortable’ with story linking Ross Lyon to Collingwood

The West Australian

Brad Hardie tells TAB Radio he is comfortable with his story about Ross Lyon showing interest in the Collingwood coaching job.

Perth radio broadcaster Brad Hardie has stood by his story about Ross Lyon showing interest in the Collingwood senior coach position.

Speaking on TAB Radio this morning, the Brownlow medallist said he was “comfortable” with what he reported on-air about the Dockers coach putting the feelers out through a third party.

“A month ago I said it and it wasn’t with any names, and it was actually on the back of a talkback caller on Saturday who pressed the issue and threw out a lot of the details to it,” Hardie said.

“I just reiterated what I had heard and known (from) five weeks ago.”

Fremantle and Ross Lyon are hot under the collar after Brad Hardie linked the Dockers coach to the job at Collingwood.

The West Australian

Fremantle and Ross Lyon are hot under the collar after Brad Hardie linked the Dockers coach to the job at Collingwood.

Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley, who is out of contract at season’s end, questioned the 6PR broadcaster’s right to retain his AFL media accreditation when asked about the report after the Magpies’ 27-point loss to Port Adelaide yesterday.

But Hardie said there were no hard feelings towards Buckley, who he felt was “ambushed” by the media at the post-game press conference in Adelaide.

“Unfortunately for Bucks, who got ambushed by the media in the press conference and probably wasn’t aware with what was going on at the time, I bear no grudge against him at all,” he said.

“It was laden with expletives from his end and in the end I returned fire and we obviously agreed to disagree in the end, so we’re all big boys and we all keep going.

“I don’t lose any sleep or get intimidated by anybody like Ross Lyon, for sure.”

A talkback caller sparked the Lyon to Collingwood discussion on-air after Fremantle’s 104-point loss against Sydney on Saturday; before Hardie suggested the Dockers coach was looking for a way back to Melbourne but was “never going to admit to that”.

Dockers CEO Steve Rosich said Lyon had made it “very clear” he was committed to the club.

“Our club has a policy of not responding to rumour and innuendo, however in this case, because the report is utterly false and personal in nature, we felt compelled as a club to issue today’s statement,” Rosich said.

“Ross is contracted to the club through to the end of the 2020 season and has made it very clear that he is firmly committed to his role as senior coach of the Fremantle Football Club.

“His sole focus is on returning the team to a pathway of sustained finals success.

“Ross’ application and dedication to what we are trying to achieve as a club has not wavered and can not be questioned.”

Lyon suffered his biggest loss as a senior coach on Saturday, with the Dockers copping a 104-point hiding at the SCG.

It was the second triple-figure defeat of his coaching career, with the first coming against Adelaide (100 points) back in May.